The lines of vines are so prominent that using them in a by-guess-and-by-golly manner can cause confusion and even offense. Except for spectacular specimens that become focal points wherever they’re placed, vines are usually most effective used in combination with other plants or items like pictures, mirrors, pieces of furniture.

But used with care, vines can create breathtaking effects against walls, fireplaces, railings of stairs, and other vertical areas. To harmonize and connect a background – the wall – with a table or chair standing before it, hang or train a vine just above the furniture. Stand back and squint at the composition to see if it is balanced. Check the relative proportions of space, to furniture, to plant. Decide whether the shapes are harmonious, whether colors and textures have interesting contrast. Then, congratulate yourself on achieving one of the difficult but most artistic types of interior design.

Or arrange a vine with or around a mirror that reflects the image and doubles the effect. To lower a high ceiling, train a vine horizontally at some point above eye level; try the reverse with vertical lines. Experiment with breaking up a large, bare surface with the line, light, and shadow effect of a vine.

Available variety of suitable vines, of course, depends partly on cultural conditions. Walls are not usually brightly lighted, so foliage vines are used for their fresh greenery and the pattern of leaf, stem, and shadow. Small, slow-growing varieties are out of scale on large walls; massive, heavy vines are too dominant for limited areas. Some clinging vines will climb a smooth wall without support; stem-and tendril-climbers need cord or wire. Take all these qualities into consideration, then take off on one of the following suggestions or a creative idea of your own.

In a living room corner where a rough stone fireplace joins a wall of smooth plaster or paneling, the abrupt change can be softened and the two surfaces blended by a soft foliage vine trained up to the ceiling and across the top of the second wall. Fatshedera would do well here, or some of the climbing philodendrons.

In the bathroom, where the air is moist so it can have guttation in plants, tropical climbers will grow faster and cling tighter even to smooth walls. Try a flat-clinging variety up the side of the shower. In the library or TV room, cut a hole in the top of a bookcase, just large enough to hold a pot by the rim. Provide a plant-to-ceiling support like a thin, straight tree trunk or moss pole, and let several variegated scindapsus cover it with white-splashed, overlapping leaves.

On the fireplace mantel, avoid the trite matching bowls of ivy. Try one large, low, centered container overflowing with nephthytis, or balance a tall candelabra at one end against a low, spreading asparagus fern at the other.

In a contemporary house I know, the wall dividing living room from kitchen stops two feet short of the ceiling. On top, the talented home decorator sets a bowl from which long stems of garden ivy hang down to break up the broad expanse of bare wall. When the ivy fades, she replaces it with potted philodendrons or other foliage vines, sometimes balanced by a bark-mounted staghom fern.

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There is one initial choice that you need to make when deciding which paving material you want to use. You can opt for paving material that is one solid and continuous solid surface. This is when you would use concrete whether or not it has been colored and textured. You can also choose to pave an area with paving stones or interlocking bricks which are also durable and beautiful but are not one solid piece. Therefore they have a very different look.

There are areas where concrete is a good choice for a paving material. You may want to consider using concrete around pools. Pool decks that are made with textured concrete can look beautiful and the surface can give you more purchase and make the area less slippery if it gets wet. You can use the same product to create very durable driveways, walkways and patio surfaces. The main advantage is that it can be harder for weeds and plants to grow up through the paving material since there are no gaps or spaces like there are with other paving materials.

Textured cement is mixed with pigments which color all of the concrete. This is excellent because if one area gets chipped or damaged, there will not be any white layer showing through underneath. It also means that you need to make the decision to color your concrete at the time it is put in. After it has been colored, it is poured into molds that keep it in the area that needs to be paved. It is then stamped with a variety of stamps which shape and add texture to the surface. The result can look like bricks, stones or other alternative paving techniques.

You don’t need to worry about the durability of textured concrete. It is very hard and easy to look after. About the only thing you need to remember is to avoid the use of salt as a de-icing agent. This is because salt can break down the cement, causing it to crumble and drastically shortening its lifespan.

Many people prefer the classic look of cobblestones, cultured stone or interlocking brick. These can form some beautiful patterns and are also durable. They are often less even than the surface of textured concrete. They also have different installation methods, but they are great if you like the way they look. They can also be very useful if you are trying to pave an area that will not be easy to pave using concrete.

The first is that you need to make sure that no weeds can grow up between the bricks or stones. You want to make sure you are putting down a plastic layer that will keep weeds from growing up through the stones. It is never a permanent solution but it will work to keep your paved areas weed free for much longer than they will be without the layer. Then, a layer of sand is put down. This is a critical step for several reasons. The sand layer cushions the bricks or stones. It levels the surface that the stones or bricks have been placed on. It is also flexible and can handle changes in the ground due to frost or other weather conditions. Once the sand layer has been put down, you want to put the bricks or stones down and adjust them so that they form the pattern or look that you are after.

By taking the time to look at your options and decide which will suit you best, you can find the perfect solution to your paving needs.

Craig Johnson is an expert in home landscaping. If you would like more information about paving or are searching for a trusted paving company please visit http://www.clearancepaving.co.uk

Not quite the same as unity, but an important part of it, is harmony – a restful quality created when all parts of a design or decorative effect add up to one style or mood. An extreme example may illustrate the point. Setting an urn of clean, stark contemporary lines beside an ornate, Victorian garden seat would be inharmonious; each style is foreign to and unsympathetic with the other. But a low fence is in harmony with the rose that clambers over it; vining plants can unite harmoniously the upright plants in a window box with the box itself.

There are innumerable techniques for unifying a design, of which the following five are probably basic.

1. To have unity, a design usually has only one focal point or center of interest. For example, a vine or other planting and its container can be the object of interest against a wall; or the vine can be so arranged that it supports a center of interest, like a fireplace. Any attempt to use it for both purposes can result in either chaos or complete lack of interest.

2. To have unity, a decorative effect should be designed to hold the eye inside the picture. The flowing lines of vines are particularly effective here. Training a vine around a large window, for example, holds the eye and keeps it from wandering off.

3. To have unity, the elements of a design can often be arranged so that they interlock or overlap. Here again, vines are useful. Without a vine planted at its base, a tall shrub may seem entirely separate from the tub it is planted in; when a vine overlaps the container below and the shrub above, the two are tied together.

4. To have unity, the important parts of a design must be in pleasing relative proportion or scale. The vine selected to blend a shrub like yucca branched and its tub should be neither so small that the shrub overpowers it, nor so large and bold that it dwarfs the shrub.

5. To have unity, a design or decorative effect should be executed with restraint, moderation, good taste. Too many elements create a disturbing, helter-skelter, cluttered appearance. So a single wall bracket or hanging basket, or a matching or harmonious pair, is generally preferable to a varied assortment.

Create your own unity in the landscape with vines!

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Don’t overlook the wonderful ever increasing new hybrids. They grow beautifully in our gardens and can be had in nearly every shade and tone of white, yellow, orange, pink and red. You can have lilies in bloom from April to August by proper selection of varieties : Madonnas and the other new hybrids, April and May ; regales and tigers, June; rubrums and auratums, July; and formosanums, August.

Peonies can be planted in the Upper South only. They are too far out of their natural range to be grown successfully below Atlanta, Birmingham and Greenwood. Plant in a rich soil to which well-rotted manure has been added. Don’t plant the crown or eyes more than 1-1/2 inches below the soil level. They won’t bloom if you do.

Sweet Peas can be planted in the Lower South. November is better for the Middle and Upper South but soils can be prepared now in all sections. Use a trench 6 or 8 inches deep and put several inches of well-rotted manure in the bottom. Over the manure, place 2 or 3 inches of well-prepared garden soil. Don’t fill the trench to ground level until later. Then, as the new plants develop, gradually pull in the remainder of the soil to fill to ground level. Early varieties should be planted first.

Roses appear in stores this month but it is too early to plant them. Wait until November or December. Too early a planting causes soft growth which is killed by freezing weather. Instead, use this time to prepare the soil well.

Tender house plants should be brought indoors before night temperatures become cold. Sudden temperature fluctuations cause considerable trouble.

Fall lawn planting continues through October. For a rye grass overplanting on Bermuda lawns sow at the rate of 5 pounds for each 1,000 square feet. For straight rye grass plantings double the rate. In either case, apply 100 pounds of pulverized sheep manure or other organic food and 30 to 40 pounds of 6-10-4, 5-10-5 or 6-8-6 per 1,000 square feet. Keep newly-seeded lawns well watered at all times to insure a good germination. Aerate old lawns to improve growth.Lilies Show Up in October Southern Roses Make a Planting Date Fall Lawns Bring Green Lawns

Lilies are making their appearance in garden center stores in ever-increasing numbers during October. The southern strains of Easter lilies are now ready for planting. These are hardy in southern gardens and produce great quantities of pure white blooms every spring. Plant them 6 to 8 inches deep in rich, well-drained soil.

Don’t overlook the wonderful ever increasing new hybrids. They grow beautifully in our gardens and can be had in nearly every shade and tone of white, yellow, orange, pink and red. You can have lilies in bloom from April to August by proper selection of varieties : Madonnas and the other new hybrids, April and May ; regales and tigers, June; rubrums and auratums, July; and formosanums, August.

Peonies can be planted in the Upper South only. They are too far out of their natural range to be grown successfully below Atlanta, Birmingham and Greenwood. Plant in a rich soil to which well-rotted manure has been added. Don’t plant the crown or eyes more than 1-1/2 inches below the soil level. They won’t bloom if you do.

Sweet Peas can be planted in the Lower South. November is better for the Middle and Upper South but soils can be prepared now in all sections. Use a trench 6 or 8 inches deep and put several inches of well-rotted manure in the bottom. Over the manure, place 2 or 3 inches of well-prepared garden soil. Don’t fill the trench to ground level until later. Then, as the new plants develop, gradually pull in the remainder of the soil to fill to ground level. Early varieties should be planted first.

Roses appear in stores this month but it is too early to plant them. Wait until November or December. Too early a planting causes soft growth which is killed by freezing weather. Instead, use this time to prepare the soil well.

Anthurium care house plant should be brought indoors before night temperatures become cold. Sudden temperature fluctuations cause considerable trouble.

Fall lawn planting continues through October. For a rye grass overplanting on Bermuda lawns sow at the rate of 5 pounds for each 1,000 square feet. For straight rye grass plantings double the rate. In either case, apply 100 pounds of pulverized sheep manure or other organic food and 30 to 40 pounds of 6-10-4, 5-10-5 or 6-8-6 per 1,000 square feet. Keep newly-seeded lawns well watered at all times to insure a good germination. Aerate old lawns to improve growth.

There is much more on anthurium. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/anthuriums-flamingo-flower.html. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

There is in all probability no blossom as pretty or as popular as a rose. They have been around for 1000s of years and are identified in almost every country. Growing rose bushes is rewarding and easy. All you need is a little piece of gardening know how to get started. Through understanding a little bit more about horticulture care the more productive you will be with your rose bushes.

There are numerous different species of rose bushes. There is literally a rose to suit every taste, orientation, color, shape and anything else you can think of or they can come up with. Rose bush care is somewhat simple when you understand what roses need. Roses like to be established in sunny spots. They require at least 6 hours of unfiltered, direct sunshine a day. Even those rose bushes that are said to do really well in the shade still require about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunshine a day. Roses also require good ground to grow in. You can always change the soil in your garden with a little bit of compost.

Like any other plant you will sometimes have to deal with a pest problem. Rose bushes are inclined to being invaded by many different kinds of hurtful insects like rose midge larva, rose cane borer, thrips, Japanese beetles, stem girders, aphids, rose slugs, mites, caterpillars, scale insects, and rose chafers.

Nobody wishes to have to deal with these pests but to support the lifetime of the plant, it is obligatory to correct the problem. You have many choices of how you are planning to contend with the pest trouble after you have identified which type of bug you are dealing with. If you only see one or two bugs you can try plucking them off the roses and killing them yourself. Make sure to remove the whole leaf you find them on because they could have laid eggs that are still hidden on the leaf.

You always have the pick of utilizing synthetic or natural chemicals to help you get rid of the pests. Make sure to observe the directions on the packet of how to use these types of chemicals. Even natural or organic chemical substances can be harmful to people if they are used improperly. If you are adamant about not utilizing any type of chemicals on your rose bushes, you can always try utilizing the natural enemies of the pests. Not all bugs that you see in your garden are devastating to plants. Lady bugs and some types of wasps consume pests that can harm rose bushes. You can see your local garden center to see if this is an option for you with the type of pests that you have. Or you can check online.

Another part of rose bush care is deadheading. Deadheading is another word for pruning. This encourages more blooms. The rose will set seed and stop growing new flowering shoots if the bloom is left to fade. That is why deadheading is essential. Cutting is also getting rid of dead twigs or educating the bush to grow a certain way.

There are many another gardeners who think that no garden is perfect without one or various rose bushes. A decently cared for rose bush can produce blooms from the month of June until it begins to frost. Rose bushes beautify the yard and adorn your home with elegance. With a little attention can turn your rose bushes into a perfect bush supplying an abundance of roses.

If you enjoyed reading this article, and for more great information on Rose Bush Care, visit http://www.growtheroses.com.

Solar Christmas lights are one of the most popular Christmas decorations nowadays, due to their cost efficiency and attractiveness. These types of lights will allow the homeowner to save up to 100 W per each string of Christmas lights. Solar Christmas lights add magic to any Christmas, since they do not have to be turned on or off. The lights will automatically turn on with the onset of the evening.

One of the main benefits of solar Christmas lights is that they eliminate the need in electrical outlets. Another benefit is that they help the homeowners to really save on the cost of energy. These lights get charged from the sunlight, and then they automatically come on with the onset of the evening. These lights allow you to decorate any tree in your garden, no matter how far away it is located from the house.

The principle of solar Christmas lights is a little solar panel with solar cells, capable of collecting solar energy and transferring it into regular electricity. Tiny solar panels can be placed anywhere, such as on the ground or on a tree branch. Four solar cells will allow the unit to completely recharge on a bright and sunny day.

When looking for solar Christmas lights, it is better to opt for the lights equipped with special polycrystalline solar cells, which allow the lights to emit bright light for hours even after being charged for merely a few hours on a rainy, snowy or an overcast day.

It is actually quite simple to calculate how much sun you need for your lights to stay on throughout the whole evening and the night. Each hour of sunshine will allow the lights to shine for an hour in the evening.

Solar Christmas lights come in different shapes, such as round, teardrop and oval shapes. The lights also come in different colors, such as the yellow, red, green and blue. You can also find a specific type of light, which you would prefer to see on Christmas, starting with a soft light and up to a very bright light.

Once Christmas is over, it doesn’t mean that you have to take your solar Christmas lights down. You can keep them in your garden, in order to; for example, decorate arches in your garden with this pleasant type of light. The lights can also be used for various other holidays, such as anniversaries and birthdays, as well as for lighting of pathways, porches, etc.

It is better to opt for solar Christmas lights with a replaceable and rechargeable AA size battery. Such battery will allow you to recharge and to replace the battery yourself in order to continue to get illumination on overcast days. It is better not to opt for lights with lithium batteries, since you will not be able to replace such batteries yourself. Regular AA size batteries can be recharged with a battery charger if they were not fully charged by the sunlight.

The most important thing about solar Christmas lights is that you can place them anywhere around your house and in the garden, and still you would never need to worry about the cords running across your yard. You would also never have to turn your lights off and on. Another pleasant thing is that you would save a lot on each electric bill.

Before placing your solar Christmas lights, take note of your yard for 2-3 days. Does the area, where you want your Christmas lights placed, have a shadow cast? To get the most out of your solar Christmas lights, make sure that the solar cells panel is in direct sunlight.

About the author: John Monsholi knows a lot about solar Christmas lights and solar holiday lights.